Guide · References
How to check contractor references without wasting the call
The short answer
Ask for at least three recent customers whose projects resemble yours. Confirm when the work happened, then ask whether it finished on time, stayed close to the estimate, was cleaned up, had problems corrected and whether the customer would hire the contractor again. A hand-picked reference is one input, not proof.
Editorial status: source-checked on 2026-08-22; not reviewed by a lawyer, licensing authority, engineer or trade professional. United States; privacy and recording rules vary.
Request useful matches
The FTC recommends asking trusted people for recommendations and asking contractors for references. Federal and state consumer guidance recommends at least three customers with projects like yours and questions about timing, unexpected costs, cleanup and satisfaction. Prefer recent, comparable work.
- When was the project, and was it similar to mine?
- Did the work start and finish when promised?
- Were there unexpected costs?
- Did the crew show up and clean up as agreed?
- Were complaints or unfinished items corrected?
- Would you hire them again for the same job?
Corroborate the story
A contractor selects favorable references. Compare the calls with the written bid, public licence record, complaint sources and local permit records. Photos and a reference call do not prove inspections closed or subcontractors were paid.
Sources
Primary government and consumer-protection sources checked for this guide:
- How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam, Federal Trade Commission. Accessed .
- Hiring a Contractor, Federal Trade Commission via GovInfo. Accessed .
- HIC Homeowner Resources, Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. Accessed .